I decided to learn how to embroider a couple of months ago after seeing all of the great projects on this site. This is the first (and only) thing I ever embroidered. I just found it in one of my dresser drawers.

It turned out a little crooked and shaky because I can't sew in a straight line, but I kind of like it.

One of the things I don't like is that lines are really thin compared to the other needleworks I see on this site. I don't know if I'm using the wrong kind of thread or fabric or something. Are there some special materials you need for embroidery to make it turn out right?

Dear Merrelise - it is very pretty, and amazing for a first project. Don't worry about the straight lines - who wants them, anyway?But about the thin lines - you can make them as thin or thick as you want, it is one of the wonderfull things about embroidery, you can really play with your needles. Try using different stitches - there are books with these - different kinds Of thread, try laying several layers of stitches on top of each others, and so on. But your work is fine as it is - it looks like a drawing made by pencil.I am looking foreward to see more from your hand.

That's absolutely fantastic, especially for a first attempt- great job! Don't worry about straight lines- as Taramor said, it looks like a hand drawn picture.

I use 2 threads almost exclusively when I stitch, dropping down to one for fine details like faces. Others use more, you can use as many as you like to get the chunkiness you're looking for.

You can find heaps of tutorials on the internet for different stitches, which will give you different looks- TreeCactus has a pile of video tutorials on her website that I love. There's a thread with all the links here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=141604.0

Keep at it- if this is your first attempt, you've got a big future ahead of you

the great thing about embroidery is that it is a very forgiving medium of art - and straight lines are rarely of huge importance!

if you are worried about not having thick enough stitches you can use more thread on the needle (I have used as many as 4 strands) or take incredibly tiny stitches if you don't want to try more variety until you are more comfy with the needle and thread and hoop and juggling all that stuff

I love embroidery, but it takes me a long time to finish a project because I am an old crone of a woman with bad eyesight, LOL!

check the online tutes, also check the library for books on stitching - sometimes you can even get some at those sales libraries have where they sell of the old books for dirt cheap, and honestly I think the really old books on stitching have as much to offer or more then the more modern ones do!

Wow, awesome for a first project. I really like how it looks like a drawing. Just add or omit strands of floss to get different thicknesses, and different stitches will achieve different looks too. If you search around Craftster or Google, you will find a wealth of information on embroidery, with lots of great tutorials for expanding your stitch knowledge. Good luck!